Original Research

Quality of psychiatric referrals to secondary-level care

W Struwig, P J Pretorius
South African Journal of Psychiatry | Vol 15, No 2 | a207 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v15i2.207 | © 2009 W Struwig, P J Pretorius | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 26 June 2009 | Published: 01 June 2009

About the author(s)

W Struwig,
P J Pretorius, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

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Abstract

Objectives. This study examined the quality of referrals to secondary-level outpatient psychiatric services rendered by the Department of Psychiatry, University of the Free State. Referral letters were evaluated according to specific quality criteria. Aspects that would enable secondary-level doctors to make informed decisions in terms of further management and need for special investigations were specifically considered.

Design. A descriptive study design was used, and convenience sampling included all referrals to the unit over a 6-month period (June - November 2007). All referral letters were screened according to a checklist designed for this study.

Setting. The study was undertaken at the Psychiatry Outpatient Department of the Pelonomi Provincial Hospital in Bloemfontein, which functions as a secondary-level referral centre for mental health in the southern Free State. Outcome measures. Descriptive statistics (percentages, means and standard deviations) were used to summarise results. Results. Two hundred and sixty-three referral letters were included in the study. Less than 20% of the referral letters included information on previous psychiatric consultations, current psychotropic medication, the outcome of physical examinations, and results of special investigations. Only 17 (6%) referral letters indicated a preliminary diagnosis according to an officially recognised classification system.

Conclusion. There was conclusive evidence that the quality of referrals to the Psychiatry Department was generally inadequate. A need for more effective referral strategies was identified.


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Crossref Citations

1. Experience and Diagnostic Anchors in Referral Letters
Nanon L. Spaanjaars, Marleen Groenier, Monique O. M. van de Ven, Cilia L. M. Witteman
European Journal of Psychological Assessment  vol: 31  issue: 4  first page: 280  year: 2015  
doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000235